theres alot of context left out of this 1 scripture.
1 John 1:6-10" If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
its about being forgiven of our sins, and cleansed from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:6 - If we
SAY that we have fellowship with Him, and
walk in darkness, we
lie and
do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Walking in darkness is descriptive of children of the devil. Walking in the light is descriptive of children of God. Only those who are saved/believers are in the light.
Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, in order to
turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And
what communion has light with darkness?
Ephesians 5:8 - for you were
formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Children of the devil walk in darkness, not in the light. Children of God walk in the light, not in darkness. IF confirms these positions in verses 6 and 7. It's one or the other.
In 1 John 2:9, we read - He who
SAYS he is in the light, and
hates his brother, is
in darkness until now. In vs. 11 - But he who
hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
*Compare with 1 John 3:10 - In this the
children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever
does not practice righteousness is not of God, (compare with 1 John 1:6 -
does not practice the truth) nor is he who
does not love his brother. *Notice that walks in darkness, hates his brother is connected to children of the devil.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness is IN CONTRAST TO - If we
SAY that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us (vs. 8) and - If we
SAY that we have not sinned, we
make him a liar, and
his word is not in us (vs. 10). Some people misunderstand verse 9 to mean that we must confess each sin that we commit as we commit them (keep a specific inventory) as an additional requirement to remain cleansed and if we forget a sin we are toast!
To not confess our sins but say that we have no sin or we have not sinned and keep on practicing sin demonstrates what about a person? 1 John 3:8 -
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.